Any collision between a personal vehicle and a semi-truck is capable of causing a devastating injury. An especially dangerous type of truck accident is an underride, which occurs when a passenger vehicle slides underneath the trailer after making contact with the truck. What can make these types of collisions even worse for victims and their families is that many underrides are avoidable.

The danger associated with underride accidents stems from the significant height difference between passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. Without a protective barrier in place, the top of the car could be sheared off, possibly causing severe head and neck trauma to the passenger vehicle’s occupants. Recognizing the severity of this issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has implemented regulations requiring rear impact guards on trailers to prevent underrides from vehicles traveling behind trucks. However, these regulations have been criticized for not being stringent enough, and side underride guards are not currently mandated.

Advocates for highway safety have been pushing for regulations requiring more robust rear impact guards and the mandatory installation of side underride guards. Studies have shown that these guards can significantly reduce the risk of fatalities in underride accidents. Still, there has been resistance to these efforts and confusion over the need for additional safety measures based on the different standards used by authorities to determine exactly what constitutes an underride accident. For example, some agencies do not refer to a collision as an underride accident unless at least 50 percent of the passenger vehicle’s hood is under the trailer. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, its Advisory Committee on Underride Protections will have its charter extended through June 2025 to assess whether regulations should be strengthened. However, underride accidents will continue, causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones and sometimes death. If you or a loved one has been involved in an underride, it is crucial to seek legal counsel from accomplished truck accident lawyers who understand the complexities of these cases. We can review the facts to determine whether a failure to install required rear guards, or some other form of negligence, led to the underride. 

At GSJones Law Group, P.S. in Port Orchard, we pursue maximum compensation for Washington clients in all types of accident claims involving commercial vehicles. You can rely on us to use physical evidence, witness testimony, information from a truck’s electronic data recorder and other information to construct a persuasive case on your behalf. To schedule a consultation with an experienced attorney, please call 360-876-9221 or contact us online.